The Perfect 7-Day Rwanda Itinerary
One week, four landscapes: the itinerary we recommend most to first-time visitors.
Eben Safari Tours Team2 min read
Day 1 – Kigali
Arrive, then visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market and an art gallery. Dinner at one of Kigali's terrace restaurants.
Day 2 – Akagera National Park
Drive 2.5 hours east. Afternoon game drive and sunset boat safari on Lake Ihema.
Day 3 – Akagera to Musanze
Early game drive when lions and elephants are most active, then cross the country to the volcanoes.
Day 4 – Gorilla trekking
The highlight: an hour with a mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park.
Day 5 – Golden monkeys, then Lake Kivu
Track golden monkeys in the bamboo, then drive 1.5 hours to Rubavu on Lake Kivu.
Day 6 – Lake Kivu
Boat to the islands, kayak, visit the hot springs or simply rest.
Day 7 – Return to Kigali
Drive back through the hills for an evening flight.
Variations
- Love hiking? Swap golden monkeys for Mount Bisoke's crater lake.
- Primates over beaches? Replace Lake Kivu with Nyungwe for chimpanzees and the canopy walk (allow 8 days).
Book this route as our 7-Day Classic Rwanda Safari.
Written by the Eben Safari Tours team
We are a Kigali-based tour operator, guiding travellers through Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania since 2015. Our guides trek with the gorillas, drive Akagera and climb the volcanoes every week, and we update these guides whenever rules or prices change.
